7 reasons why a hot wagon is the ideal road trip car
08 Jun 2023|10,177 views
Crawling to a standstill on the North South Highway (NSHW), bladder full, shoulders aching, the next R&R 36km away, home still quite some time away. This wasn't quite what I envisioned when I first decided to head up to Kuala Lumpur for a concert.
Truth be told, it could be a lot worse. I could be on my bike. At least the car is plenty comfortable, and I've got my podcasts to keep me company.
Driving up to KL to catch an 80 minute concert is a great idea, right? Right?? Look, there's no such thing as a perfect car for every occasion. Different cars have different purposes, and are suited for different occasions. Sports cars are great on the track, but not so great in dense city traffic. Off-roaders, as the name would suggest, will take you on the path less travelled, but are less happy on boring tarmac. Efficient hybrids, while certainly bang-for-buck, are perhaps not that interesting for the journey.
However, for a quick 2D1N road trip up to KL? I would contend that a hot wagon, something like this Skoda Octavia Combi RS, might just be the ideal vehicle. Here are a seven reasons why:
1. Practical, enough
Last minute packers will appreciate a wagon's huge boot I bought my concert ticket months ago. Preparing for the actual trip though? I couldn't be less prepared. I had money changed (only two days ago), but as of six hours before my departure time that's basically all the preparation I had done.
Good, then, that this wagon means that I can effectively chuck everything into the boot without even needing to pack. Luggage? Pah, the boot is a mobile storage on wheels. It's time to get going.
2. Powerful, enough
Ample power means that the journey can be shorter than what Waze indicates EA888 power means that cruising along at speeds I won't publish here is a breeze. The car feels stable at (high) NSHW speeds, which is certainly welcome when I have a specific merchandise queue opening timing I'm trying to hit.
Pulling away from TnG toll booths, the Combi RS consistently and capably applies its 241bhp. And with very good traffic on my leg up north, I manage to get from Bedok to Bukit Bintang in exactly four hours.
3. Comfortable, enough
Turn on adaptive cruise control and you can let the car do most of the driving - you just need to concentrate on which exit you have to take When traversing the NSHW, a certain level of comfort is much appreciated. Yes, there are faster, cooler cars out there, but when you just need to bang out the 300+km from Tuas to KL, sometimes comfort is what you want (especially if you experience downpours like I did).
The Combi RS has that in spades. Set in the 'Comfort' setting, it smooths over bumps effortlessly, and even while going quickly you still feel at ease. One little tip - turn on adaptive cruise control, and you barely have to do any actual driving.
4. Efficient, enough
A reasonably efficient car means that it's cheaper (and faster) than flying up to KL This ain't no eco-challenge (and I've done a few), but I was surprised by the overall efficiency of the car. I clocked 13.9km/L throughout my trip (with mostly highway driving, admittedly), which means that I only had to stop for petrol once.
That's good for saving time, but more importantly you also save money. With petrol just under a dollar a litre, I spent less than $80 on petrol and tolls combined (that's cheaper than the cheapest roundtrip flight you can buy).
5. It's flexible, enough
Need to drop off a friend? The Combi RS has got that covered, too The Combi RS also offers plenty of flexibility. It's compact and manoeuvrable enough to tackle narrow porthole-marked side streets in KL (try doing that in a Ferrari), it's perfectly happy stuck in traffic in KLCC as it is bombing down a B-road, and there's never an occasion where you think, "Damn I'm in the wrong car".
And of course, if for some reason you need to make a last-minute detour to drop your friend off at the airport, there's plenty of space for that, too.
6. Discreet, enough
The Combi RS blends in reasonably well with the rest of the Malaysian cars, so you can shop and massage in peace You've probably read/watched/heard horror stories about cars getting damaged in Malaysia, or having their brakes stolen or what not. With a hot wagon, that's less likely to happen (choy).
Whether its parking in a dingy multi-story carpark or along the roadside to grab a quick bowl of Chilli Ban Mian, a car like this Combi RS doesn't draw too much attention. Yes, look closely and perhaps its performance credentials show, but to most people it's just another family car (which, it is).
7. Fun, enough
0km/h traffic aside, the rest of the journey with the Combi RS has been nothing but pleasing Yes, I will concede, even in the niche realm of hot wagons, there are perhaps more exciting choices - the recent BMW M3 Touring immediately springs to mind. But I'll contend that the Combi RS fits my purposes better. It's more efficient, more comfortable and more discreet, while still having enough dynamic capability for brief forays into B-road territory.
With good power and composed handling, the Combi RS never feels dull. Yes, coming to a standstill on the NSHW is incredibly annoying, but other than that the whole experience has been nothing but joyful and pleasant.
I've driven plenty of cars to KL over the years, ranging from eco-challenge compact sedans to fire-breathing supercars.
Need to head to KL to watch an epic concert? A hot wagon is the ideal car to get you there and back Each, of course, have their own specialist capability. You make compromises, in one way or another, so that you can then fully exploit the car in the way it's designed to.
However, for this quick sprint up to KL and back, I do think that a hot wagon like this Combi RS, while perhaps not the best at any one particular thing, is the ideal choice precisely because it is just generally good in so many things. It feels like the choice with fewest compromises.
Good, because now my bladder is really compromised. Gelang Petah cannot come quickly enough.
Truth be told, it could be a lot worse. I could be on my bike. At least the car is plenty comfortable, and I've got my podcasts to keep me company.
However, for a quick 2D1N road trip up to KL? I would contend that a hot wagon, something like this Skoda Octavia Combi RS, might just be the ideal vehicle. Here are a seven reasons why:
1. Practical, enough
Good, then, that this wagon means that I can effectively chuck everything into the boot without even needing to pack. Luggage? Pah, the boot is a mobile storage on wheels. It's time to get going.
2. Powerful, enough
Pulling away from TnG toll booths, the Combi RS consistently and capably applies its 241bhp. And with very good traffic on my leg up north, I manage to get from Bedok to Bukit Bintang in exactly four hours.
3. Comfortable, enough
The Combi RS has that in spades. Set in the 'Comfort' setting, it smooths over bumps effortlessly, and even while going quickly you still feel at ease. One little tip - turn on adaptive cruise control, and you barely have to do any actual driving.
4. Efficient, enough
That's good for saving time, but more importantly you also save money. With petrol just under a dollar a litre, I spent less than $80 on petrol and tolls combined (that's cheaper than the cheapest roundtrip flight you can buy).
5. It's flexible, enough
And of course, if for some reason you need to make a last-minute detour to drop your friend off at the airport, there's plenty of space for that, too.
6. Discreet, enough
Whether its parking in a dingy multi-story carpark or along the roadside to grab a quick bowl of Chilli Ban Mian, a car like this Combi RS doesn't draw too much attention. Yes, look closely and perhaps its performance credentials show, but to most people it's just another family car (which, it is).
7. Fun, enough
With good power and composed handling, the Combi RS never feels dull. Yes, coming to a standstill on the NSHW is incredibly annoying, but other than that the whole experience has been nothing but joyful and pleasant.
I've driven plenty of cars to KL over the years, ranging from eco-challenge compact sedans to fire-breathing supercars.
However, for this quick sprint up to KL and back, I do think that a hot wagon like this Combi RS, while perhaps not the best at any one particular thing, is the ideal choice precisely because it is just generally good in so many things. It feels like the choice with fewest compromises.
Good, because now my bladder is really compromised. Gelang Petah cannot come quickly enough.
Crawling to a standstill on the North South Highway (NSHW), bladder full, shoulders aching, the next R&R 36km away, home still quite some time away. This wasn't quite what I envisioned when I first decided to head up to Kuala Lumpur for a concert.
Truth be told, it could be a lot worse. I could be on my bike. At least the car is plenty comfortable, and I've got my podcasts to keep me company.
Driving up to KL to catch an 80 minute concert is a great idea, right? Right?? Look, there's no such thing as a perfect car for every occasion. Different cars have different purposes, and are suited for different occasions. Sports cars are great on the track, but not so great in dense city traffic. Off-roaders, as the name would suggest, will take you on the path less travelled, but are less happy on boring tarmac. Efficient hybrids, while certainly bang-for-buck, are perhaps not that interesting for the journey.
However, for a quick 2D1N road trip up to KL? I would contend that a hot wagon, something like this Skoda Octavia Combi RS, might just be the ideal vehicle. Here are a seven reasons why:
1. Practical, enough
Last minute packers will appreciate a wagon's huge boot I bought my concert ticket months ago. Preparing for the actual trip though? I couldn't be less prepared. I had money changed (only two days ago), but as of six hours before my departure time that's basically all the preparation I had done.
Good, then, that this wagon means that I can effectively chuck everything into the boot without even needing to pack. Luggage? Pah, the boot is a mobile storage on wheels. It's time to get going.
2. Powerful, enough
Ample power means that the journey can be shorter than what Waze indicates EA888 power means that cruising along at speeds I won't publish here is a breeze. The car feels stable at (high) NSHW speeds, which is certainly welcome when I have a specific merchandise queue opening timing I'm trying to hit.
Pulling away from TnG toll booths, the Combi RS consistently and capably applies its 241bhp. And with very good traffic on my leg up north, I manage to get from Bedok to Bukit Bintang in exactly four hours.
3. Comfortable, enough
Turn on adaptive cruise control and you can let the car do most of the driving - you just need to concentrate on which exit you have to take When traversing the NSHW, a certain level of comfort is much appreciated. Yes, there are faster, cooler cars out there, but when you just need to bang out the 300+km from Tuas to KL, sometimes comfort is what you want (especially if you experience downpours like I did).
The Combi RS has that in spades. Set in the 'Comfort' setting, it smooths over bumps effortlessly, and even while going quickly you still feel at ease. One little tip - turn on adaptive cruise control, and you barely have to do any actual driving.
4. Efficient, enough
A reasonably efficient car means that it's cheaper (and faster) than flying up to KL This ain't no eco-challenge (and I've done a few), but I was surprised by the overall efficiency of the car. I clocked 13.9km/L throughout my trip (with mostly highway driving, admittedly), which means that I only had to stop for petrol once.
That's good for saving time, but more importantly you also save money. With petrol just under a dollar a litre, I spent less than $80 on petrol and tolls combined (that's cheaper than the cheapest roundtrip flight you can buy).
5. It's flexible, enough
Need to drop off a friend? The Combi RS has got that covered, too The Combi RS also offers plenty of flexibility. It's compact and manoeuvrable enough to tackle narrow porthole-marked side streets in KL (try doing that in a Ferrari), it's perfectly happy stuck in traffic in KLCC as it is bombing down a B-road, and there's never an occasion where you think, "Damn I'm in the wrong car".
And of course, if for some reason you need to make a last-minute detour to drop your friend off at the airport, there's plenty of space for that, too.
6. Discreet, enough
The Combi RS blends in reasonably well with the rest of the Malaysian cars, so you can shop and massage in peace You've probably read/watched/heard horror stories about cars getting damaged in Malaysia, or having their brakes stolen or what not. With a hot wagon, that's less likely to happen (choy).
Whether its parking in a dingy multi-story carpark or along the roadside to grab a quick bowl of Chilli Ban Mian, a car like this Combi RS doesn't draw too much attention. Yes, look closely and perhaps its performance credentials show, but to most people it's just another family car (which, it is).
7. Fun, enough
0km/h traffic aside, the rest of the journey with the Combi RS has been nothing but pleasing Yes, I will concede, even in the niche realm of hot wagons, there are perhaps more exciting choices - the recent BMW M3 Touring immediately springs to mind. But I'll contend that the Combi RS fits my purposes better. It's more efficient, more comfortable and more discreet, while still having enough dynamic capability for brief forays into B-road territory.
With good power and composed handling, the Combi RS never feels dull. Yes, coming to a standstill on the NSHW is incredibly annoying, but other than that the whole experience has been nothing but joyful and pleasant.
I've driven plenty of cars to KL over the years, ranging from eco-challenge compact sedans to fire-breathing supercars.
Need to head to KL to watch an epic concert? A hot wagon is the ideal car to get you there and back Each, of course, have their own specialist capability. You make compromises, in one way or another, so that you can then fully exploit the car in the way it's designed to.
However, for this quick sprint up to KL and back, I do think that a hot wagon like this Combi RS, while perhaps not the best at any one particular thing, is the ideal choice precisely because it is just generally good in so many things. It feels like the choice with fewest compromises.
Good, because now my bladder is really compromised. Gelang Petah cannot come quickly enough.
Truth be told, it could be a lot worse. I could be on my bike. At least the car is plenty comfortable, and I've got my podcasts to keep me company.
However, for a quick 2D1N road trip up to KL? I would contend that a hot wagon, something like this Skoda Octavia Combi RS, might just be the ideal vehicle. Here are a seven reasons why:
1. Practical, enough
Good, then, that this wagon means that I can effectively chuck everything into the boot without even needing to pack. Luggage? Pah, the boot is a mobile storage on wheels. It's time to get going.
2. Powerful, enough
Pulling away from TnG toll booths, the Combi RS consistently and capably applies its 241bhp. And with very good traffic on my leg up north, I manage to get from Bedok to Bukit Bintang in exactly four hours.
3. Comfortable, enough
The Combi RS has that in spades. Set in the 'Comfort' setting, it smooths over bumps effortlessly, and even while going quickly you still feel at ease. One little tip - turn on adaptive cruise control, and you barely have to do any actual driving.
4. Efficient, enough
That's good for saving time, but more importantly you also save money. With petrol just under a dollar a litre, I spent less than $80 on petrol and tolls combined (that's cheaper than the cheapest roundtrip flight you can buy).
5. It's flexible, enough
And of course, if for some reason you need to make a last-minute detour to drop your friend off at the airport, there's plenty of space for that, too.
6. Discreet, enough
Whether its parking in a dingy multi-story carpark or along the roadside to grab a quick bowl of Chilli Ban Mian, a car like this Combi RS doesn't draw too much attention. Yes, look closely and perhaps its performance credentials show, but to most people it's just another family car (which, it is).
7. Fun, enough
With good power and composed handling, the Combi RS never feels dull. Yes, coming to a standstill on the NSHW is incredibly annoying, but other than that the whole experience has been nothing but joyful and pleasant.
I've driven plenty of cars to KL over the years, ranging from eco-challenge compact sedans to fire-breathing supercars.
However, for this quick sprint up to KL and back, I do think that a hot wagon like this Combi RS, while perhaps not the best at any one particular thing, is the ideal choice precisely because it is just generally good in so many things. It feels like the choice with fewest compromises.
Good, because now my bladder is really compromised. Gelang Petah cannot come quickly enough.
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